AB716,14,22 20460.15 Penalty. Any person who violates this chapter subchapter or any rule
21promulgated under this chapter subchapter may be fined not more than $1,000 for
22each violation or imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both.
AB716,50 23Section 50 . 460.17 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB716,15,524 460.17 (1) A city, village, town, or county may not enact an ordinance that
25regulates the practice of massage therapy or bodywork therapy by a person who is

1licensed by the affiliated credentialing board under this chapter
license holder. No
2provision of any ordinance enacted by a city, village, town, or county that is in effect
3before February 1, 1999, and that relates to the practice of massage therapy or
4bodywork therapy, may be enforced against a person who is licensed by the affiliated
5credentialing board under this chapter
license holder.
AB716,51 6Section 51 . 460.17 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB716,15,107 460.17 (2) (a) 1. A city, village, or town may enact and enforce an ordinance that
8prohibits an individual from violating the prohibitions under s. 460.02 unless the
9individual is licensed under this chapter as required in compliance with the
10requirement
under s. 460.02.
AB716,52 11Section 52 . 460.17 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB716,15,1612 460.17 (2) (a) 2. A city, village, or town may enact and enforce an ordinance that
13prohibits a person from employing or contracting for the services of an individual to
14provide massage therapy or bodywork therapy who is required to be licensed in
15compliance with the requirement
under s. 460.02 unless the individual is licensed
16under this chapter
a license holder.
AB716,53 17Section 53 . Subchapter II of chapter 460 [precedes 460.50] of the statutes is
18created to read:
AB716,15,1919 Subchapter II
AB716,15,2020 INTERSTATE MASSAGE COMPACT
AB716,16,6 21460.50 Interstate massage compact. (1) Article 1 - purpose. The purpose
22of this compact is to reduce the burdens on state governments and to facilitate the
23interstate practice and regulation of massage therapy with the goal of improving
24public access to, and the safety of, massage therapy services. Through this compact,
25the member states seek to establish a regulatory framework which provides for a new

1multistate licensing program. Through this additional licensing pathway, the
2member states seek to provide increased value and mobility to licensed massage
3therapists in the member states, while ensuring the provision of safe, competent, and
4reliable services to the public. This compact is designed to achieve the following
5objectives, and the member states hereby ratify the same intentions by subscribing
6hereto:
AB716,16,87 (a) Increase public access to massage therapy services by providing for a
8multistate licensing pathway;
AB716,16,99 (b) Enhance the member states' ability to protect the public's health and safety;
AB716,16,1110 (c) Enhance the member states' ability to prevent human trafficking and
11licensure fraud;
AB716,16,1312 (d) Encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating the multistate
13practice of massage therapy;
AB716,16,1414 (e) Support relocating military members and their spouses;
AB716,16,1615 (f) Facilitate and enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and
16disciplinary information between the member states;
AB716,16,1817 (g) Create an interstate commission that will exist to implement and
18administer the compact;
AB716,16,2019 (h) Allow a member state to hold a licensee accountable, even where that
20licensee holds a multistate license;
AB716,16,2221 (i) Create a streamlined pathway for licensees to practice in member states,
22thus increasing the mobility of duly licensed massage therapists; and
AB716,16,2423 (j) Serve the needs of licensed massage therapists and the public receiving their
24services; however,
AB716,17,2
1(k) Nothing in this compact is intended to prevent a state from enforcing its own
2laws regarding the practice of massage therapy.
AB716,17,5 3(2) Article 2 - definitions. As used in this compact, except as otherwise
4provided and subject to clarification by the rules of the commission, the following
5definitions shall govern the terms herein:
AB716,17,86 (a) “Active military member” - any person with full-time duty status in the
7armed forces of the United States, including members of the National Guard and
8Reserve.
AB716,17,159 (b) “Adverse action” - any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action
10permitted by a member state's laws which is imposed by a licensing authority or
11other regulatory body against a licensee, including actions against an individual's
12authorization to practice such as revocation, suspension, probation, surrender in lieu
13of discipline, monitoring of the licensee, limitation of the licensee's practice, or any
14other encumbrance on licensure affecting an individual's ability to practice massage
15therapy, including the issuance of a cease and desist order.
AB716,17,1716 (c) “Alternative program” - a non-disciplinary monitoring or prosecutorial
17diversion program approved by a member state's licensing authority.
AB716,17,2118 (d) “Authorization to practice” - a legal authorization by a remote state
19pursuant to a multistate license permitting the practice of massage therapy in that
20remote state, which shall be subject to the enforcement jurisdiction of the licensing
21authority in that remote state.
AB716,17,2522 (e) “Background check” - the submission of an applicant's criminal history
23record information, as further defined in 28 CFR 20.3 (d), as amended from the
24federal bureau of investigation and the agency responsible for retaining state
25criminal records in the applicant's home state.
AB716,18,3
1(f) “Charter member states” - member states who have enacted legislation to
2adopt this compact where such legislation predates the effective date of this compact
3as defined in sub. (12).
AB716,18,74 (g) “Commission” - the government agency whose membership consists of all
5states that have enacted this compact, which is known as the Interstate Massage
6Compact Commission, as defined in sub. (8), and which shall operate as an
7instrumentality of the member states.
AB716,18,108 (h) “Continuing competence” - a requirement, as a condition of license renewal,
9to provide evidence of participation in, and completion of, educational or professional
10activities that maintain, improve, or enhance massage therapy fitness to practice.
AB716,18,1511 (i) “Current significant investigative information” - investigative information
12that a licensing authority, after an inquiry or investigation that complies with a
13member state's due process requirements, has reason to believe is not groundless
14and, if proved true, would indicate a violation of that state's laws regarding the
15practice of massage therapy.
AB716,18,1816 (j) “Data system” - a repository of information about licensees who hold
17multistate licenses, which may include but is not limited to license status,
18investigative information, and adverse actions.
AB716,18,2119 (k) “Disqualifying event” - any event which shall disqualify an individual from
20holding a multistate license under this compact, which the commission may by rule
21specify.
AB716,18,2422 (L) “Encumbrance” - a revocation or suspension of, or any limitation or
23condition on, the full and unrestricted practice of massage therapy by a licensing
24authority.
AB716,19,2
1(m) “Executive Committee” - a group of delegates elected or appointed to act
2on behalf of, and within the powers granted to them by, the commission.
AB716,19,43 (n) “Home state” - means the member state which is a licensee's primary state
4of residence where the licensee holds an active single-state license.
AB716,19,65 (o) “Investigative information” - information, records, or documents received
6or generated by a licensing authority pursuant to an investigation or other inquiry.
AB716,19,97 (p) “Licensing authority” - a state's regulatory body responsible for issuing
8massage therapy licenses or otherwise overseeing the practice of massage therapy
9in that state.
AB716,19,1210 (q) “Licensee” - an individual who currently holds a license from a member
11state to fully practice massage therapy, whose license is not a student, provisional,
12temporary, inactive, or other similar status.
AB716,19,1613 (r) “Massage therapy”, “massage therapy services”, and the “practice of
14massage therapy” - the care and services provided by a licensee as set forth in the
15member state's statutes and regulations in the state where the services are being
16provided.
AB716,19,1717 (s) “Member State” - any state that has adopted this compact.
AB716,19,2118 (t) “Multistate License” - a license that consists of authorizations to practice
19massage therapy in all remote states pursuant to this compact, which shall be
20subject to the enforcement jurisdiction of the licensing authority in a licensee's home
21state.
AB716,20,222 (u) “National licensing examination” - a national examination developed by a
23national association of massage therapy regulatory boards, as defined by
24commission rule, that is derived from a practice analysis and is consistent with

1generally accepted psychometric principles of fairness, validity and reliability, and
2is administered under secure and confidential examination protocols.
AB716,20,33 (v) “Remote state” - any member state, other than the licensee's home state.
AB716,20,54 (w) “Rule” - any opinion or regulation promulgated by the commission under
5this compact, which shall have the force of law.
AB716,20,96 (x) “Single-state license” - a current, valid authorization issued by a member
7state's licensing authority allowing an individual to fully practice massage therapy,
8that is not a restricted, student, provisional, temporary, or inactive practice
9authorization and authorizes practice only within the issuing state.
AB716,20,1110 (y) “State” - a state, territory, possession of the United States, or the District
11of Columbia.
AB716,20,13 12(3) Article 3 - member state requirements. (a) To be eligible to join this
13compact, and to maintain eligibility as a member state, a state must:
AB716,20,1414 1. License and regulate the practice of massage therapy;
AB716,20,1715 2. Have a mechanism or entity in place to receive and investigate complaints
16from the public, regulatory or law enforcement agencies, or the commission about
17licensees practicing in that state;
AB716,20,1918 3. Accept passage of a national licensing examination as a criterion for massage
19therapy licensure in that state;
AB716,20,2120 4. Require that licensees satisfy educational requirements prior to being
21licensed to provide massage therapy services to the public in that state;
AB716,21,422 5. Implement procedures for requiring the background check of applicants for
23a multistate license, and for the reporting of any disqualifying events, including but
24not limited to obtaining and submitting, for each licensee holding a multistate
25license and each applicant for a multistate license, fingerprint or other

1biometric-based information to the federal bureau of investigation for background
2checks; receiving the results of the federal bureau of investigation record search on
3background checks and considering the results of such a background check in
4making licensure decisions;
AB716,21,65 6. Have continuing competence requirements as a condition for license
6renewal;
AB716,21,87 7. Participate in the data system, including through the use of unique
8identifying numbers as described herein;
AB716,21,149 8. Notify the commission and other member states, in compliance with the
10terms of the compact and rules of the commission, of any disciplinary action taken
11by the state against a licensee practicing under a multistate license in that state, or
12of the existence of investigative information or current significant investigative
13information regarding a licensee practicing in that state pursuant to a multistate
14license;
AB716,21,1515 9. Comply with the rules of the commission;
AB716,21,1716 10. Accept licensees with valid multistate licenses from other member states
17as established herein;
AB716,21,2218 (b) Individuals not residing in a member state shall continue to be able to apply
19for a member state's single-state license as provided under the laws of each member
20state. However, the single-state license granted to those individuals shall not be
21recognized as granting a multistate license for massage therapy in any other member
22state;
AB716,21,2423 (c) Nothing in this compact shall affect the requirements established by a
24member state for the issuance of a single-state license; and
AB716,22,2
1(d) A multistate license issued to a licensee shall be recognized by each remote
2state as an authorization to practice massage therapy in each remote state.
AB716,22,5 3(4) Article 4 - multistate license requirements. (a) To qualify for a multistate
4license under this compact, and to maintain eligibility for such a license, an applicant
5must:
AB716,22,76 1. Hold an active single-state license to practice massage therapy in the
7applicant's home state;
AB716,22,108 2. Have completed at least six hundred and twenty-five (625) clock hours of
9massage therapy education or the substantial equivalent which the commission may
10approve by rule.
AB716,22,1211 3. Have passed a national licensing examination or the substantial equivalent
12which the commission may approve by rule.
AB716,22,1313 4. Submit to a background check;
AB716,22,1814 5. Have not been convicted or found guilty, or have entered into an agreed
15disposition, of a felony offense under applicable state or federal criminal law, within
16five (5) years prior to the date of their application, where such a time period shall not
17include any time served for the offense, and provided that the applicant has
18completed any and all requirements arising as a result of any such offense;
AB716,22,2419 6. Have not been convicted or found guilty, or have entered into an agreed
20disposition, of a misdemeanor offense related to the practice of massage therapy
21under applicable state or federal criminal law, within two (2) years prior to the date
22of their application where such a time period shall not include any time served for
23the offense, and provided that the applicant has completed any and all requirements
24arising as a result of any such offense;
AB716,23,3
17. Have not been convicted or found guilty, or have entered into an agreed
2disposition, of any offense, whether a misdemeanor or a felony, under State or federal
3law, at any time, relating to any of the following:
AB716,23,44 a. Kidnapping;
AB716,23,55 b. Human trafficking;
AB716,23,66 c. Human smuggling;
AB716,23,77 d. Sexual battery, sexual assault, or any related offenses; or
AB716,23,88 e. Any other category of offense which the commission may by rule designate.
AB716,23,109 8. Have not previously held a massage therapy license which was revoked by,
10or surrendered in lieu of discipline to an applicable licensing authority;
AB716,23,1211 9. Have no history of any adverse action on any occupational or professional
12license within two (2) years prior to the date of their application; and
AB716,23,1313 10. Pay all required fees.
AB716,23,1514 (b) A multistate license granted pursuant to this compact may be effective for
15a definite period of time concurrent with the renewal of the home state license.
AB716,23,1716 (c) A licensee practicing in a member state is subject to all scope of practice laws
17governing massage therapy services in that state.
AB716,23,2118 (d) The practice of massage therapy under a multistate license granted
19pursuant to this compact will subject the licensee to the jurisdiction of the licensing
20authority, the courts, and the laws of the member state in which the massage therapy
21services are provided.
AB716,24,2 22(5) Article 5 - authority of interstate massage compact commission and
23member state licensing authorities.
(a) Nothing in this compact, nor any rule of the
24commission, shall be construed to limit, restrict, or in any way reduce the ability of
25a member state to enact and enforce laws, regulations, or other rules related to the

1practice of massage therapy in that state, where those laws, regulations, or other
2rules are not inconsistent with the provisions of this compact.
AB716,24,63 (b) Nothing in this compact, nor any rule of the commission, shall be construed
4to limit, restrict, or in any way reduce the ability of a member state to take adverse
5action against a licensee's single-state license to practice massage therapy in that
6state.
AB716,24,97 (c) Nothing in this compact, nor any rule of the commission, shall be construed
8to limit, restrict, or in any way reduce the ability of a remote state to take adverse
9action against a licensee's authorization to practice in that state.
AB716,24,1310 (d) Nothing in this compact, nor any rule of the commission, shall be construed
11to limit, restrict, or in any way reduce the ability of a licensee's home state to take
12adverse action against a licensee's multistate license based upon information
13provided by a remote state.
AB716,24,1714 (e) Insofar as practical, a member state's licensing authority shall cooperate
15with the commission and with each entity exercising independent regulatory
16authority over the practice of massage therapy according to the provisions of this
17compact.
AB716,24,20 18(6) Article 6 - adverse actions. (a) A licensee's home state shall have exclusive
19power to impose an adverse action against a licensee's multistate license issued by
20the home state.
AB716,24,2321 (b) A home state may take adverse action on a multistate license based on the
22investigative information, current significant investigative information, or adverse
23action of a remote state.
AB716,25,324 (c) A home state shall retain authority to complete any pending investigations
25of a licensee practicing under a multistate license who changes their home state

1during the course of such an investigation. The licensing authority shall also be
2empowered to report the results of such an investigation to the commission through
3the data system as described herein.
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